When Winning Colors won the Kentucky Derby in 1988, she became the second filly to win the Derby in nine editions, following Genuine Risk in 1980. But in 33 runnings since, only five fillies have attempted to win the Derby, a scenario that came to a screeching halt in the past decade, owing to a change in rules that made entry to the race equitable for all.

Plans are on hold for Strike Hard, who was scratched Saturday from the Tampa Bay Derby after spiking a temperature last Friday, a day after being shipped over from Gulfstream. The gray Flashback colt is back home.

“He’s not back training quite yet,” trainer Matthew Williams said mid-week. “We’ve got to watch him and see.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Un Ojo will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby on April 2 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Ricky Courville said Tuesday.

The connections of last month's Rebel winner at Oaklawn had been leaning toward a start in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, but in the last week have made the decision to target the Arkansas Derby. The one-eyed horse is based in Louisiana.   

The Beyer Speed Figure for the horses who ran in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct has been elevated by nine points with the winner, Early Voting, having now been assigned an 87.

Zozos, an impressive Oaklawn Park allowance-race winner, will start March 26 in the $1 million Louisiana Derby. And Cyberknife, an impressive Fair Grounds allowance winner, will start April 2 in the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.

Trainer Brad Cox hinted last week that would be his plan with these two Triple Crown hopefuls, and after both colts turned in Fair Grounds works over the weekend, Cox confirmed it Sunday.

Epicenter, after winning the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes by nearly three lengths over highly regarded Smile Happy and posting a 98 Beyer Speed Figure – among the best in his class – rose toward the top of most Kentucky Derby lists. His closing odds in Pool 4 of the Derby Future Wager, which closed March 13, were 13-1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Saffie Joseph Jr. sent out Holy Bull winner White Abarrio to work here Sunday. White Abarrio went a strong five furlongs in 59.50, going easily throughout, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.42. White Abarrio will be among the favorites in what is shaping up to be an outstanding renewal of the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2.

White Abarrio is going directly from the Holy Bull to the Florida Derby.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Morello, the undefeated winner of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 5, returned to the work tab Monday morning at Belmont Park, cruising an easy half-mile in 52.55 seconds over the training track. Morello is preparing for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9 at Aqueduct.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A mere three weeks between races has become something of a rarity for a Kentucky Derby prospect, but trainer Kenny McPeek intends to forge ahead with his revised plan anyway.

It wasn’t long after Rattle N Roll finished sixth in his 3-year-old debut, the March 5 Fountain of Youth here at Gulfstream Park, that McPeek said the colt will wheel back in three weeks in the Louisiana Derby on March 26 at Fair Grounds.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Brian Lynch was in his usual good mood Monday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? The trainer had heard all the talk about Classic Causeway not being fast enough, even after the colt’s victory on Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, and decided to wave it off.

“I’ve never done this,” Lynch said about having a serious Kentucky Derby prospect so late in the game, “and I’m going to keep enjoying it.”